First French Polynesian delegation in 40 years visits Taiwan

Taipei, Aug. 27 (CNA) A delegation of French Polynesian politicians is making its first visit to Taiwan in nearly 40 years to boost exchanges, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Wednesday.

The seven-member delegation includes Teva Rohfritsch, one of French Polynesia's two senators in the French Senate, as well as former presidents Gaston Tong Sang and Edouard Fritch. They are visiting Taiwan from Aug. 25 to 30, the ministry said.

The last visit to Taiwan by a French Polynesian parliamentary delegation was in 1987, MOFA said.

During their six-day trip, the delegation will visit several government agencies, including the Ministry of Education, Council of Indigenous Peoples and Ministry of Agriculture. Deputy Foreign Minister François Wu (吳志中) will also host them at a banquet, it said.

The group will also visit the Ita Thao tribe at Sun Moon Lake in central Nantou County to experience Taiwan's Indigenous culture, and travel to the Ocean Affairs Council in southern Kaohsiung to learn about the nation's marine culture, it added.

French Polynesia is an overseas territory of France and its only overseas country. Its legislature is the single-chamber French Polynesia Assembly.

France's president is the head of state in French Polynesia, represented locally by a high commissioner appointed by Paris. The high commissioner oversees defense, foreign affairs and justice. Day-to-day government is led by the president of French Polynesia, who is supported by a cabinet known as the Council of Ministers.